Automatic means for turning rotatable control shafts to predetermined positions



June 17, 1941. 'LE ROY LE|SHMAN 2,246,050

AUTOMATIC MEANS FOR TURNING ROTATABLE CONTROL SHAFTS To PREDETERMINED POSITIONS Filed June 21,o 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 6, @MWM LE ROY J. LEISHMAN June 17, '1941. 2,

AUTOMATIC 4MEANS FOR TURNING ROTATABLE CONTROL sHAFTs TO PREDETERMINED POSITIONS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 21, 1937 Patented June 17,- 1941 ATOMATIC MEANS. FOB TURNING ROTAT- ABLE 00ml. SHAFTS T0 PBEDETER- MINED POSITION Sl Le Roy J. Leishman, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application June 21, 1937, serial No. 149,442

(ci. 'r4-1o) 16 Claims.

This application is a continuation in part of my application Serial Number 757,644, led Decem- 1 ber l5, 1934, and relates to improvements in automatic apparatus for turning rotatable objects about their axes to predetermined positions, and more particularly to means wherebya plurality ofsuch objects may be immediately and simultaneously rotated to any one of several pre-selected positions or "settings which may be diii'erent for each rotated object.

'I'he purposes of this invention are to provide simple apparatus for turning dials, shafts and the like to the particular settings required in using an instrument or machine for a definite task; to afford means whereby a plurality of such rotatable elements may be simultaneously turned each to a pre-selected position which may be diiferent from that to which any other such element is being turned; to provide a simple manually operated control for accurately returning such rotatable elements to any desired previous position; to provide mechanism whereby a single operation will cause a plurality of rotatable members each to be turned to any one of a group of preselected positions; to provide means for simultaneously setting the 'dials of a. radio receiving set and a television receiving set; to make it possible for a single operation to tune either a radio set or a television set, or both; and to afford means whereby the apparatus may easily be adiusted so that a single manual operation will cause the desired rotatable element to be turned to a desired position.

The application of this invention to radio and television makes it possible to tune in a radio broadcasting station and its associated television broadcasting station in'far less time and with much less bother than would otherwise be re quired. 'I'he large number of pictorial lements needed in television for the transmission of a single detailed image within the time period of the persistence of vision, makes the use of short waves desirable; and further, the governments of various countries have assigned certain frequencies in the short wave bands for this purpose. For these and other reasons, the satisfactory transmission of both sound and vision by radio waves requires that'they be transmitted ondiii'erent carrier frequencies. To receive both the sound and the associated television. the radio receivingpset must be tuned to the frequency on which the radio broadcasting station is transmit-v ting, and the short wave television receiver must be tuned to the different frequency of the television broadcasting station which transmits the images of the scene at which the radio program originates. The dial settings for these stations are entirely different, and it is therefore impractical to turn the dials synchronously by any connection means, such as gears, belts or a common shaft. The present .invention makes it possible to accomplish this double tuning by a single manual operation.

Still other objects of this invention will be evi- I dent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig.l is a perspective rear view of an automatic control-positioning mechanism operated by a hand lever.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of substantially the same apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 illustrates details of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a front view, showing a plurality of means for positioning a single shaft.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of an electrically operated control-positioning mechanism having important features in common with the mechanism of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of disk C of Fig. 5, showing a pair of selector-solenoids adjustably mounted thereon.

Fig. 7 shows disc A of Fig. 5, together with the 4positioning arms and other details.

Fig. 8 illustratesa modification of the apparatus shown in Fig. 7.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in the various figures.

Although the type of automatic adjusting or positioning mechanism herein described may be used for-setting the dials or controls of many different kinds of apparatus. its application to the automatic tuning of radio and television sets, as disclosed herein, may be considered as representative of its use for other purposes.

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate an embodiment of my invention in which two control shafts are simultaneously angularly positioned. by two oppositely rotating positioning wheels operated by a. lever. Y

Pulley 35, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, carries a pin 38, and is free to move around shaft S. A is a positionable arm having a set screw R for attaching it to shaft S. Pulley 31, Fig. 3, has a pin 38 and is free to rotate about a collar or bushing 39 shown protruding from the pulley on the same side as the f pin. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, a spring ll is attached to pulley 35 at 42 and wound around the shaft and ilxed at'some stationary point 43. Arm A is mounted on shaft S next to pulley I5. Bushing 39, bearing arm C and pulley 3i, also rotates on shaft S.

` application,

Lever F2, pivoted on rod Q', moves in a plane at right angles to shaft S and extends through a slot G in a panel or escutcheon D, Fig. l. A cord 46 is attached to lever F2 at point 35. This cord is then placed in the groove of pulley 31, then around idler 40 and next around pulley 35.` Irl` asmuch as pulleys 35 and 3l turnless than 180,

degrees, the cord is attached to them at convenient points to prevent slippage. The pins 36 and 38, of pulleys 35 and 3l respectively, are between the pulleys, as shown, when the apparatus is assembled. The washers 45 of Fig. 2 have been omitted from Fig'. 1 for the sake of clarity.

If leve'r F2 is pressed down, the cord Mi will cause the pulleys to turn in the directions indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. 'Ihis in turn will cause pin 3,8 of pulley 3l to engage the arms A and C and carry them around with pulley 3l. Pin 36, meanwhile, will be turning with pulley 35 in an opposite direction to pin 3S, and the two 4Vpins will finally grasp the arms between them at a central position on the opposite side of shaft S.

When lever F2 is released, the spring si, wound up by the previous rotation of pulley 35, will cause this pulley to turn in an opposite direction, winding cord 46 into the groove of this pulley and causing pulley 3l also to turn in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow and raising lever F2 to its originalinoperative position. The arms A and C, however, will remain in their central position on the opposite side of shaft S, as the pulleys are free to move independent of the arms, shaft and hub.

A television tuner may bey connected by any suitable means to the -free end of bushing 39, and a radio tuner may be attached to shaft S.

To set the mechanism so that shaft S' will turn a connected radio tuner to the exact position required to bring in a given station, the lever F2 is rst pressed down, thus causing positionable arms A and C to be turned by means of pins @t and 38 to a tuned in position at which the arms are tightly held by means of the pins. Set -screw R is then loosened, permitting shaft S to turn freely. With the lever still held down to retain the positionable arms in the tuned in position, the radio set is precisely tuned to the desired station by means of the regular tuning knob, and then set-screw R is again tightened. Thereafter, regardless of the angular position in which shaft S and arm A happen to be found, the pressing of lever F2 will return them to the exact position required to accurately tune in the station for which arm A was set.

1f a television tuner is connected to bushing 39,

arm C may readily be set-to tune in the picture carrier frequency by-loosening set-screw T while lever F2 is held down, then tuning in the station manually and retightening the set-screw.

The free end of lever F2 moves in a slot G in the panel D, Fig. 1, and the set-screws can be made accessible through holes (not shown) in the panel, as disclosed in my original application, issuing as Patent No. 2,084,851. I

Several units such as that illustrated in Figs. l and 2 may be assembled on shafts S and Q, and the bushings for the television positioning arms may be yoked together as taught in.l my original now Patent No. 2,084,851.

An assembly of three units is shown in Fig. 4 on the first page of the drawings. As this particular assembly is merely intended to position a single shaft, only one positionable arm is shown between each pair of pulleys 35 and 31. In the arrangement, shown from the front rather than the rear. the levers F2 are represented as having hubs H. and they are spaced on rod Q between collars 9 attached to the rod by set-screws i0,

as in the apparatus depicted in Fig. 4 of my aboveattached mentioned original application. The positionable arms A at the left and right are shown respectively above and below the tuned-in position, while the center arm A is pictured at the tuned-in position to which it has been turned by the central pair of pulleys 35 and 3l, under action of cord @s to the central lever F2, shown at the lower end of its operating stroke.

Fig. 5, appearing on the first page of the drawings, shows an electrically operated modification of the device of Figs. 1 and 2, having a. plurality of arm-contacting pins-one for each station. InV this modification, however, only one set of wheels and arms is required, and the arms move the wheels instead of being moved by the wheels, as in Figs. l and 2.

Disc C, Fig. 5, may be considered as operating a television tuner, and is mounted on hollow shaft. or bushing, 39, and rigidly held to said shaft by means of screw or pin 1 in hub- 0. Hollow shaft 39 turns freely on shaft Q, connected to motor 21. Also mounted on hollow shaft 30 is split gear 28-28. The half A28 of split-gear 28--20' is rigidly attached to shaft 39 by means of pin or screw 65 in hub 66. Meshing with gear 28-20' is another gear 26 rigidly mounted on shaft 25 of television tuner 26 by means of pin or'screw 2l in the hub of said gear.

Positioning arm 33 is rigidly held on shaft Q by means of screw l0 -in hub H.

-Spacer 20 i on shaft Q, serves to limit the longitudinal movement in one direction of hollow shaft 39 on shaft Q, and its movement in the opposite direction is arrested by collar 9, having a set-screw 202.

Also rigidly mounted on shaft Q, is bevel gear 203 having a hub 204 and a set-screw or pin 20:1. Gear 203 meshes with idler gear 206, which in turn meshes with bevel gear 20, rigidly mounted on hollow shaft 208 by means of screw or pin 209 in hub 2i0. Gear 20l is kept from meshing too tightly with bevel gear 208 by collar 2li, rigidly mounted on shaft Q and abutting against hollow shaft 208 to which gear 201 is attached.

Shaft 208 transmits rotary motion to positioning arm 31 which is rigidly mounted on the other end of said shaft by means of screw 2|2 in hub BH3.

From the mechanism thus far described, lt will be evident that any rotation of shaft Q will cause positioning arms 35 and 31 to turn in opposite directions, the motion being.reversed by gears 203, 206 and 201.

Turning freely on hollow shaft 208 is another hollow shaft 2M whose longitudinal movement is prevented by spacer 2li and collar ZIB having a set-screw 2li.

Disc A is rigidly mounted on hollow shaft 2M n by means of screw 2i1a in hub 2I8. Split-gear `station selectors are designated by the letter L,

and are individually distinguished by an addilocated on the opposite side oi' the disc.

tional letter and numeral. These selectors L must be angularly adjustable within a few degrees about the center or the disc upon which they are mounted. 'I'he simplest way to do this, of course, would be to have them movable in arcs, but such an arrangement would subject their setscrews or other aiilxing means to the greatest strain when the discs are being rotated by means of a side-thrust applied to the pins or plungers Y. This strain is reduced, and other objectives served, by making them movable along non-radial slots 221 or 228 extending from the outer part of the disc toward the center, as shown in Figs.

6 and 7. These non-radial slots should preferparts: a magnet or solenoid 229, Figs: and 6; al

plunger or pin Y, Figs. 5, 6 and 7 having a head 23|, Figs. 5 and 6; a base 230, Figs. 5 and 6, to which the solenoid or magnet is suitably'attached; a bumper 232, Figs. 5 and 6, attached to the base 423|) and servingto prevent the spring 233, Fig. 5,

LR3 on disc A are shown connected by wires 24| and 242 to Contact 85e 0f switch Mc. When this switch is actuated, the current passes from source 82, one side oi' which is grounded, through wire 244, motor |21, wire 93, switch I4c,contact 35e, and wires 242 and 24| to selectors LTI and LR3. The other side of the circuit is grounded to the disc and the various metal parts of the apparatus, a ground connection being shown at 243 at the extreme right of the figure. This causes selectors LTI and LR3 to push out their plungers YI and Y2 respectively and also starts the motor, .which rotates shaft Q in the direction indicated by ,arrow 24D, and by means of the interconnected parts previously explained, the arms 35 and 31 are caused to turn to the position shown in the drawings, with pins or plungers YI and Y2 held tightly between them. While they are thus held, Vthe set screws 231 are tightened firmly so that selectors LTI and LRS will normally occupy this position with respect to the arms'35 and 31 when these' stations are tuned in.

from forcing the plunger or vpin too far from its normal inoperative position; a small clamping plate 234, Figs. 5 and 7, located on the opposite side of the disc and having an aperture 236, Figs. 5 and 7, to pass the pin Y; a guide 235, Figs. 5 and 7, which passes slidably through the slot in the diso and serves to hold the base and plate together; and a set-screw 231, Figs. 5. 6 and 7, to tighten the base and plate together rmly on the disc. For the sake of clearness in the drawings,-

various partsof selectors LT2, LT3, LRI and LR2 have been omitted. Y

Fig. 7 shows the inner side of disc A, with the clamping plates, the magnets, of course, being It will be noted in this figure that the slots are closer to the center on disc A than on disc C. This is merely a .precaution to keep protruding plunger pins on the two discs from colliding with each other. l

.To set the tuner, the sound and 'television stations are first tuned in bythe tuning knobs 238 and 239. 'I'he rotation of knob 238 not'only operates the tuner 224, but also turns gear 222,

the selector on each disc that is nearest to the v position that arms 35 and 31 are in when they close together. 'I'his is the position shown in Figs. 5 and 7, the position to which the arms are rotated when shaft Q, Fig. 5,- turns in the direction indicated by arrow 24Il. These selectors are then electrically connected to the switch or push button that it is desired shall thereafter tune in this particular pair of stations. The total number of such switches provided should equal the number of selectors on each disc, but only three switches, 84a, 84h and 84e are Ishown in the ligure.

In the ligure, selector LTI on disc C and selector After the set-screws have been tightened, switch 84e is released. Spring 245 connected to collar 9 by pin 246, and having the other end connected to a stationary pin 241, then rotates shaft Q in the direction indicated by the arrow on gear 203. This turns arm 35 in the same direction, and by means 'of the gears, turning in the direction indicated by the arrows, causes arm 31 to turn in an opposite direction to that of arm 35. They are prevented from making ymore than a half revolution by detent 248 on gear 201which strikes against stopper 249 in the position of 248 shown in dotted lines. 'I'he inactive position of arms 35 and 31 is shown in dotted lines in Figs. 5 and 7.

When a pair of selectors have been set" in the manner described, it will be evident that regardless of the angular position that discs A and C may occupy. the discs will be returned to the position in which they were set by merely closing the proper switch, thus causing the plunger pins tobe ejected and turned with the discs until the pins are rmly held in place by the closing together oi arms 35 and 31.

Other selectors are similarly set for other paired stations and connected to other switches so that each switchwill control a pair of stations.

`Each of the split gears mentioned in connection with Fig. 5 makes it possible to avoid play between said gear and the meshing-gear, as the teeth on the two halves of the split gear are positioned by a spring so that they either spread :between the teeth of rthe meshing-gear or else ,from the sauler side of said gear as the end of pin 250 that protrudes through hole 25|. A spring 253 draws these pins together, pulling the gears in opposite directions and causing the teeth of gear 26 and the teeth of gear 28' to take up any play that would otherwise nexist between these teeth and thosel of gear 26. The other split-gear 2I9-2I9' is similarly equipped.

For simplicity in the drawings, motor |21 is shown connected directly to shaft Q, but in practice it is usually best to have intervening gears, or pulleys and belts, so that the motor may lmake severalrevolutions for each halt revolution of shaft Q. Inasmuch as shaft Q turns only the automatic tuning systems and devices herein described without departing from the general nature and purpose of the invention.

My claims are:

1. A combination including: a plurality of movable control members; electrically operable means for moving said members; `a plurality of electrically responsive means, each individual to one of said members, for stopping said members each at a pre-determined position: and a plurality of electrical switches, each. of which is electrically connected to one of the electrically responsive means associated with one of said members and spring to hold said pin in a normal position; and electrically-responsive means for moving said pin into the path o! said positioning member.

7. A combination including: a rotatable control member; a plurality of movably mounted pincarrying elements attached to said member; an electrically-operable positioning member adapted to turn in a plane parallel to that of said control member: eachfof said pin-,carrying elements having a spring to hold its pin in a normal position and an electrically-responsive means for moving said pin into the path of said positioning member; and a plurality oi switches each connected with an electrically-responsive means.

8. A combination including: a rotatable control member; a plurality of movably mounted pin-carrying elements attached to said member; two positioning members each adapted to move in a plane parallel to that ot said control member; means lor causing said positioning members always to turn in opposite directions; each of said pin-carrying elements having a spring to hold its pin in a normal position and an electrically-responsive means for moving said pin into the path of said posito one of the electrically responsive means associated with the other or said members;`

2. A combination including: a pair of independently rotatable control members; an adjustable pin-carrying element mounted on each of said members; and a positioning member adapted to engage a pin-carrying element on each of said control members when said pins lie in the -palth of said positioning member; each pin-carrying element having a spring to hold `said pin normally out of the path'of said positioning member.

3. A combination including: a pair o! independently rotatable controlfmembers; an adjustable pin-carrying element mounted on each of said members; a pair of rotatable positioning arms adapted to engage the pins carried by said elements whensaid pins lle in the path o! said positioning arms; and means for `causing said arms always to turn in opposite directions; each pin-carrying element having a spring to hold said pin normally out oi the paths of said positioning 4. A combination including: a pair ot independently rotatable control members; electricallyoperable meansY for turning said members; an adjustable-pin-carrying element mounted on cach of said members; .each of said elements having a spring for holding the pin in a normal position and electrically-responsive means for moving said pin from said vnormal position; a switch connected to said electrically responsive means oiga pincarrying element on each of said control members; and means for engaging said pins and arresting the movement ci said control members.

5. A combination including: a rotatable control member; electrically-responsive means for turning said member; a `movably mountedipin-carry.- ing element attached to saidmember; said element having a spring to hold the pin in anormal position and electrically-responsive meansfor moving said pin from said normal position; a switch connected to said electrically-responsive means; and means for stopping the rotary movement of said control member by englnil said pin when said pin is moved from its normal `position.

6. A combination including: a rotatable control member; an adjustable pin-carrying element mounted on said member; an electrically operable positioning member adapted to turn in'a plane parallel to that of said control member; a

tioning member; and a plurality of switches each connected with an electrically-responsive means.

9. A combination including: a pair o! co-axial independently rotatable control members; an ad- ,justable pin-carrying element mounted on each of said members; an electrically operable positioning member adapted to turn in a plane parallel to that of said control members; each of said elements having electrically-responsive means for moving said pin from a normal position into the path of said positioning member.

10. A combination including: a pair of co-axial, independently rotatable control members; a plurality of adjustable pin-carrying elements mounted on each o! said members; an electrically operable-positioning member adapted .to turn in a plane parallel to that of said control members; each of said elements having electrically-responsive means for moving said pin from a normal position into the path of said positioning member; and a plurality of switches each connected with an electrically-responsive means of an element on each control member.

11. A combination including: a pair of co-axial, independently rotatable control members; a plu- -rality of adjustable pin-carrying elements,

mounted on each oi' said members; two positioning members each adapted to move in a plane parallel to that oi said control members; means for causing said positioning members always to turn in oppositedirections; each or said elements having electrically-responsive means for moving its pin from a normal position into thepathof saidpositioning members; and a plurality of switches each connected with an electricallyresponsive means of an element on each control member.

12. A combination including: a control plate having a plurality of guides for mounting tappetelements; a' plurality o! tappet-elements each slidably mounted on one of said guides; means for aiiixing each of said elements in a predetermined position along its mounting guide; and a member adapted to move 'in a plane parallel to that of said plate and to engage said elements: the`l side of said member that engages said elements always lying at an angle to the guide oi the element being engaged.

13. In a radio device-a combination including: a rotatable element: a shaft extending through saidelernent; a pair of rotatable members each disposed on` an opposite side of said element; means for rotating said element in one direction upon rotation of one of said members in said direction; means for rotating said element in the opposite direction upon rotation of the other of said members in said opposite direction; each oi said means comprising a projection extending from the associated member on the side next to said element; a sleeve surrounding said shaft; i

said sleeve adapted to turn with said element; atleast one of said'members free to rotate on said sleeve; and means for rotating said members in opposite directions simultaneously.

14. 1n a radio device, a combination including:

a rotatable shaft; a positionable element mounted so that its axis of rotation is co-axial with the axis of rotation of said shaft; a pair of rotatable members each disposed on an opposite side of said element; a sleeve surrounding said shaft; said element rotatable with said sleeve; at least one of said members free to rotate on said sleeve; said sleeve adapted to transmit movementthrough y the plane of the latter member independently of prising a manually movable actuating member yextending through the plane of said panel.

15. In a radio device, a combination including: a rotatable shaft: -a first rotatable element mounted upon said shaft; a sleeve surrounding said shaft; a second rotatable element mounted upon said sleeve; a rst rotatable member free to turn upon said shaft; and a second rotatable member free to turn upon said'sleeve; said eiements positioned between said members; each of said members carrying a projecting part extending into vthe paths of rotation of both ,of said elements. 4 4

16. In a radio device, a combination including: a rotatable element; a shaft extending through said element; a pair of rotatablemembers each disposed on an opposite side of said element; means for rotating said element in one direction upon rotation. of one of said members in said direction; means for rotating said element in the opposite direction upon rotation of the other of said members in said opposite direction; veach of said means comprising a projection extending from the associated member on the side next to said element; a sleeve surrounding said shaft; said sleeve adapted to turn with said element; at least' one of said membersy free to rotate on said sleeve; and means for rotating said members in opposite directions simultaneously, said latter means comprising a single operating member in engagement with both of said rotatable members.

LE ROY J. LEISHMAN. 

